Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1887-12-17

/
fancy nickel and iron work
| He sat down suddenly on the end of his
| couch
| snow hide me-" she demanded, letting the
cloak fall off her head and piercing him
| with the largest, BLACKLIST eyes he had evel
seen.
| @Ge-whizz!" calculated Steve, bracina
himself up with his hands on the poles al
each side of him sWhere could hide you
in this place? Look up, and there's the
boiler Of the roof Look around, and there's
| the logs"
| whats in the trunk?"
Mighty little of any thing. When
| recollect what used to be in that trunk when
first came into the woods, and what amt
in it now, it makes me feel bad"
The woman threw up the lid and crouched
| inside. So quickly had her whisking
| drapery disappeared that Steve wondered
| if he were in one of his walking dreams
| which of summer nights sometimes lured
! him out Of his cabin into the woods She
kept the lid moment raised to whispe,
| through the opening: "
Don't let him get mech don't let him
get mel"
ANY fellow that would chase any thing
through this snow" observed Barrymore,
must be keen for a hunt You didn't foot
1t from the station, did your"
She had lowered the trunk lid, but raised
1t again to make q crack through which
she replied:
L Waded up the mountain, into the
woods, as fast as I could wade. To hide
somewhere from that man"
What fellow is it4'' inquired Steve
The trunk lid rose again softly, and her
voice Missed through:
ut is satan"
IN bet a peck of potatoes" said Steve,
that Pm dreamin' all this My heads as
light as a feather, and it just blows from
side to side. I'll put on another chunk of
wood and get some light on the subj ect"
AS he set some roots to blazing, their light
spread over his face like wave of merri-
ment ...ss
This is more fun than going to the ball. ,,
he murmuredL Pm having Christmas doin's
right here to home Guess I'll load my
gun-1f there's huntin' tonight
He reached for his gun-case, took out it's
shining barrels, which were polished like
silver, and began to tit the parts together,
laying his cartridges ready for insertion
The artistic part of the lone mans house
keeping was his care of his gun. No maid
loved her ornaments more, no matron
devoted more on hair looms in sterling
silver than Steve on his gun. His best
shirts had gone towards rubbing it to it's
present high perfection.
AS before, there was first muffled bump
against the door and then prolonged rap
ping @ -..- -.
Who's there?" cried the lone man The
trunk quite closed, as if its inmate pre-
ferred smothering to discovery.
aThe law of the State of California" re-
turned robust voice.
what does the law want?' ..-.....s
ut wants this door opened"
SThe laws like me-" observed the lone
man lit wants heap Of things it don't
get"
THERE'S woman in this cabin"
First time one ever saw the inside of it,
then" 80. @t5@@
Il saw the door opened"
Eyes, I often look Quito see what time
o. night tits, !" said Steve a.y~...-...
open and let me in" commanded his be-
sieger. Pm not here to parley."
If you amt got any errand, you better
put out again." suggested the lone man
This Is my cabin and my claim. haint
sent out any cards I amt to home"
The outsider uttered some resounding
sentences When these settled to the level
Va
gers as the following:
Why. can kick your miserable door
down can knock the chinking out of the
walls and shoot you through the cracks. !
can get on your roof and stamp it through -
May be you could build better house
than I've got" said Steve, with sarcasm
You don't know what you're doing And
you don't want to get into trouble with q
man like me. I have the law on my side. I
want my wife out of this cabin and I'm
going to have her out
Mice husband you must be, Mr.. Law,
said the lone man, s to be out with gun
tracking your wife through the snow like
as If she was rabbit"
At this the outsider set his heel NIGHTLY
against the door. The wooden bars held it:
but Steve saw them with the repeated kicks
loosening in their sockets He lifted his
ready gun to his eye, but lowered it with a
growl and shake Of his head He felt strong
and angry. His weakness and nausea were
gone. His blood shot like fire through its
courses, and he eltready for emergency.
Emergency in the shape Of big, furious
man soon burst the door in
Now you've done 1t, = said Steve, standing
between the trunk and his antagonist, and
holding his gun up, you see what I've got
for YOU
The strangers eyes were glowing, and
his breath short with the effort he had
made. Snow, driving behind him, whirled
far into the cabin. He held his hands in
the pockets Of a tremendous great coat He
and Steve, like knights who have Just
shocked in tournament, stood staring at
each other without moving muscle The
stranger finally Withdrew his gaze for one
sweep around the cabin
Where Is she?"
Don't let us have no more trouble. .
reasoned Steve. .You amt goin, to get her
If she don't want you to- She asst me to
stand between, and Pm going to do itin
All the uncontrolled passions of the pur-
suer blazed in his face. That pair of black
eyes, staring through a minute crack In the
trunk, saw him snatch his right hand from
his pocket and fling it forward and the butt
end of Steve's gun simultaneously striking
1t back. The pistol report was in his own
brain. She never had a doubt Of what was
done. The whole thing was distinct, posi-
tive, swift. like a bolt of lightning down the
sky. The mans body came down with a
thnmp upon Steve's earthen floor
Before Steye's mind received an impress
sion, quite minute before he could frame
words with his lips, she was out Of the